Universally adaptable frame



March 3, 1953 R. GILMONT 2,630,342

UNIVERSALLY ADAPTABLE FRAME Filed June 22, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. I.

FIG. 2. 9

ll lllllllll /9 25 I Illllllm E ml 4 PK; 5 29 20 II? 35 /o I FIG-6. INVENTOR.

ROGER GILMONT RNEY March 3, 1953 GlLMONT 2,630,342

UNIVERSAL-LY ADAPTABLE FRAME Filed June 22, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 /4 /4 i f x r/s 4 g I: J

/6 f am 5 m fi IN V EN TOR.

ROGER GILMONT ATTORNEY R. GILMONT UNIVERSALLY ADAPTABLE FRAME March 3, 1953 3 Sheets-finest 5 Filed June 22. 1948 INVENTOR.

ROGER GILMONT A TORNEY Patented Mar. 3, 1953 UNIVERSALLY ADAPTABLE FRAME Roger Gilmont, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to The Emil Greiner Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application June 22, 1948, Serial No, 34,452

3 Claims.

The invention here disclosed relates to laboratory frames such as used for the mounting of experimental set-ups and pilot plant apparatus.

Objects of the invention in particular are to provide a universally adaptable form of structure by which the scientist or technician can quickly and easily provide a firm, positive support which can be mounted anywhere, as on the floor, bench, walls or ceiling, of any size or any shape, for any kind of apparatus that he may be called upon to use.

In providing such universal form of frame construction, it is a further purpose to keep the cost at a minimum and to provide the essential parts in simple, rugged, easily assembled and disassembled pieces.

Other important objects are to keep the necessary parts as few in number as possible, and to that end to enable various parts to be used more or less interchangeably to attain different effects.

Further objects of the invention are to provide all necessary strength in as light weight and small compact form as possible.

Objects of the invention also are to provide the various parts in smoothly streamlined formation which in addition to presenting desirable appearance will provide a structure free of sharp edges, corners and projections which might be a hazard, possibly causing accident or injury.

Other desirable objects and the novel features of invention through which all such purposes are attained are set forth or will appear in the course of the following specification.

The drawings accompanying and forming part 1 of the specification illustrate present practical embodiments of the invention but structural features and arrangements may be modified and changed, as will appear from the following specification and claims.

Fig. 1 in the drawing is a. broken perspective view illustrating various elements of the frame constructing organ.zation;

Figs. 2, 3, rand 5 are enlarged broken sectional detail views of parts appearing on substantially the planes of lines 2-2, 3-3, l 4, and 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a broken sectional view illustrative of a form of coupling used in the invention;

Fig. '7 is a broken and part sectional side elevation showing an end clamp and coupling sleeve combined on the end of one of the rod members;

Fig. 8 is a cross sectional view on substantially the plane of line 8-8 of Fig. 7, illustrating 2 relative adjustability of the end clamp and coupling sleeve in different fixed angular relations;

Figs. 9 and 10 are cross sectional views of the coupling sleeve as on substantially the plane of line 99 of Fig. 7 and illustrating a quick releasable form of screw for rotatably confining such a clamp member on the end of one of the rod or stud membersj Figs. 11 and 12 are somewhat diagrammatic views illustrating two of the many possible forms of frame structures attainable with the invention.

Fig. 13 is a broken detail illustrating the invention made up as a wall mounting;

' Figs. 14 and 15 are broken part sectional views of multiple clamp combinations of the invention;

Fig. 16 is a part sectional view of the invention used as a wall clamp; and

Fig. 1'7 is a broken and part sectional view showing the central screw means for securing the elbow of the pivoted clamp appearing in Fig. 4.

Laboratory frames constructed according to this invention are made up of rods of various selected lengths connected together in different angular relations, as required, by means of special mounting and connecting fittings.

' In Fig. 1 one of the rods I0 is disposed vertically' in the form of a post supported by a floor clamp H and carrying, by means of a pivoted clamp 12, a horizontally extending rod l3 and by means of a second, universal clamp [4, a second 'angularly extending rod I 5 and further, by means of an end clamp I6, a. third supporting rod H.

The floor clamp I I is shown as a ring bored to receive the end .of the rod and split at l8 with the split sections secured togetherin clamping n a e en O e the ro b ran fiis screw l9.

Clamps of this type will ordinarily have one or more passages 20 therethrough foranchorage screws 2| which may be engaged in a floor, bench, table, wall, ceiling .or other fixed supporting medium 22, Fig.5.

A feature of this floor clamp and other clamping members to be described is that the passage 23 for the screw in the companion ,split sections intercepts the bore 24 for the rod sufficiently for the screw to enter anannular groove 2,5 in the end portion .of the rod, thusto lrotatably confine the rod in the clamp or, conversely, the clamp on the rod, according .to the particular relation of the rod and clamp.

The end clamp shown at the top of the post at [6 in Fig. 1, embodies the general features of the floor clamp in that it consists of a split ring 26 secured on the rod by clamp screw [9 extending through an annular groove in the rod, but in this case the ring is provided with a screw seat 21 to receive a screw 28 for clamping an end cap 29 over the end of the ring, the cap and ring having companion, substantially semi-circular seats 30, 3|, in line with or oifset from the bore 24 in the ring to receive and secure a rod such as H at a right angle or other angle to the rod I0.

The pivoted clamp 12 and universal clamp [4 have features of both the floor clamp and end clamp, in the form of annular split ring members 32, 33, on the pivoted clamp, the split ring member 32 on the universal clamp and end caps 29 being like those used on the end clamp.

The pivoted fixture embodies companion rounded pivoted members 35, 36, of half the longitudinal cylindrical section of the piece, pivotally connected together in overlying relation by a through clamp screw 31. One of these members, 35, is shown provided with a cylindrical stud extension 38 of the same size and shape as an annularly grooved end portion of one of the rods to fit within and be held in the bore 24 in the split clamp member 32, and the companion member, 36, is shown formed as an integral extension of the split clamp member 33. The latter, like the split clamp 32, has a bore 24 sized to receive a rod end, and in thi particular case adapted to receive the annularly grooved stud extension 39 on the end of the member 40, having a half socket 4la for the rod I 3 which is secured therein by one of the end caps 29.

When this pivoted fitting is clamped in position on the support post 10 by an end ca 29 secured by screw 28 to the split clamp 32, the rod I3 held by the other cap 29 may be pivoted and adjusted in all angular directions to suit any special needs.

The universal clamp I4 is made up by the direct connection of the two fittings 32 and 40, Fig. 4, omitting the intermediate pivoted connecting members 35, 36.

In Fig. 3 this is shown accomplished by fastening the member on the upright rod 10 by means of cap 29 and by engaging the split clamp member 32, holding the horizontal rod 15 over the projecting stud 39 of the first member.

The constructions disclosed provide for two and three dimensional adjustments of supporting rods and hence extension and building up of supporting frames in any desired directions and to any required extent. By the use of rods of different lengths these frames may be braced, guided, spaced and supported from a floor, a wall or adjoining or corner walls or from a ceiling or the like, as best suited to existing requirements. The fittings can be quickly and easily applied, removed or adjusted and when set up will hold the parts firmly in position. The frames, made up to required size and shape, instead of being fastened down to a floor or fixed to a wall or other stationary object, may be laid out with extended bases adapted to support the frames upright on a floor, bench, table or other support, free to be moved about, lifted or lowered or inclined, as might be required.

The interchangeability of the rod ends and the projecting studs such as 38 and 39 in the sockets 24 of the split clamps is of great advantage, providing for many structural combinations and relations not otherwise attainable. The split clamps can be engaged over and used in conjunction with either an annularly grooved rod end or the similarly grooved projecting stud of some other clamp fitting and any one of the fittings having such a. projecting stud may be engaged and held in a clamp fitting having a socket for receiving a rod end.

This interchangeability and extensibility of structure is further carried out by the provision of couplings in the form of double or multiple length split clamps, socketed to fit over the rod ends or the equivalent projecting studs.

One of such couplings is illustrated at 4| in Fig. "I, this being a so-called short coupling adapted to be engaged, for example, over the projecting stud 39 of one of the rod clamps 40 to provide at the exposed end of the same a split clamp form of socket 42 for the reception of a rod end or possibly the equivalent projecting stud of some other fitting.

This coupling sleeve is shown split through from end to end at 43 and equipped with separate clamping screws 44, 45 for the opposite end portions, to enter in the annular grooves 25 as well as to independently apply clamping pressure at the opposite ends of the coupling for securely holding the inserted portions.

Where rods of considerable length are to be joined together, long couplings 50 such as shown in Fig. 6 may be employed, these being of the same design as the shorter couplings but lengthened out to provide a strong joint between adjoining rod sections.

In both forms of the coupling and in general in the split clamps, the cut l8 or 43 forming the split may be extended across the rod receiving socket 24 into the far wall, in the form of a shallow groove 46 to impart a yielding hinged character to the split sections of the member.

While it may ordinarily be desirable to keep the parts locked together in relatively rotatable relation, by engagement of the transversely extending clamping screws I9, 44, 45, in the annular grooves 25 in the rod ends or studs, there may be situations where it would be better to have the parts quickly releasable without having to take the time to remove these holding screws.

This may be accomplished by flattening the ends of the rods or the ends of the studs at one side, into the annular grooves substantially as shown at 41 on the rod [3 in Fig. 1. Then by relatively turning the rod or stud until the flat or relief 41 is lined up with the cross screw such as I!) of the clamp member, the rod may be freely withdrawn from the clamp or the clamp removed from over the rod. This provision is of advantage where it is more essential to have the rods and clamps in quickly connectable and disconnectable relation rather than assure their positive rotatable connection.

To assure firm holding of the clamp screws, lock washers may be used beneath the heads of such screws, as indicated at 48, and the presence or absence of these look washers may be utilized for a further purpose, as brought out in Fig. 4, where the washer has been omitted beneath the head of screw 28 holding the top cap, thus to permit this screw to extend down through the member 40 into a seat 49 in the end face of the swivel clamp 33. In practice there may be a number of such screw end receiving seats 49 in selected angular relations, such as will locate the relatively rotatable stud carrying piece 40 in certain selected angular relations such as to locate the rod [3 carried thereby, for example, at 45 or 90 to the pivot axis 3'! of this fitting.

This feature of providing one member with seats to receive the end of a screw on the companion member, after removal of a locking washer beneath the head of the screw, thus to lock the two members together in certain selected angular relations, may be carried out through all the companion pieces described.

The clamping passages 30 in the end caps 29 are in each instance, Figs. 2, 3 and 4, shown offset to one side of the center line in this and the companion piece to which the cap is secured, thus to provide space and material for the clamping screw 28 at the side of the cap while preserving the external symmetrical dimension of these pieces and keeping them down to a desirable small diameter.

All parts of the frame disclosed are of simple, rugged design and can be produced at reasonably low cost. To avoid rust and corrosion it has been found desirable to make the parts of aluminum alloy and this has the further advantage that it will not disintegrate in the flame of a Bunsen burner, a situation which might occur in the normal use of the frame.

While generally preferred, the rods may be of other than circular cross section and the sockets for the same shaped accordingly. The interlocking of the transverse clamp screws with the annular grooves in the rod ends and studs relatively locates the parts longitudinally. This is an advantage in many cases, for example as shown in Fig. 5, where it may be desirable to keep the end of the supporting rod 10 in the floor clamp off the surface .of the floor or other support 22.

Fig. 8 shows how a coupling 41 or other form of clamp member may be provided with angularly related positioning seats 49 in the end of the same to receive the projecting end of a clamp screw 28 on a member engaged therewith, after the lock washer usually employed with such a screw has been removed. This applied member, as shown in Fig. '7, may be one of the end clamps. The broken lines [1, Ila and I'll: in Fig. 8 indicate the different fixed angular relations of the rod carried by such a clamp with the screw 28 so engaged in different selected recesses 49 in the end face of the companion clamp member.

Figs. 9 and 10 illustrate another form of quick release clamp screw for retaining a coupling or other clamp member on the end of a rod or stud, Fig. 9 howing how with the clamp screw set up tight, the body of the screw will intercept the annular groove 25 in the end portion of the rod or stud to confine the clamp member thereon. Fig. shows how the screw may be backed out a slight distance to bring the annularly grooved portion 52 thereof into line with the groove 25, thus to enable the member being removed from the rod without further loosening or removing the screw.

Fig. 11 illustrates one of the frames made up for mounting on a wall or the like, showing use of the floor clamp II for attaching the frame both to the floor and to an adjoining wall.

Fig. 12 shows how a frame of any size may be made up to stand on a floor or other support and be attached or left free to be moved and shifted about over the floor.

Fig. 13 is a detail showing how a frame can be made up fully supported off the face of a wall, using floor clamps ll secured directly on the ends of the horizontal wall supporting'rods l0 and floor clamps H engaged over the stud ends of pivoted clamps I2 on the upwardly inclined bracing rods 10.

Figs. 14 and 15 illustrate multiple clamp constructions for securing three rods in various angular relations and including the split clamp 32 to receive and secure the end of one rod, the one at the right in Figure 14, and cross grooved at the opposite face at 53 to accommodate the second, upright rod held thereto by one of the members 40 having the projecting stud 39 secured in the second split clamp 32, which holds the third horizontal rod, at the left, by the end cap 29.

The vertical rod ID in Fig. 14 is held clamped between the seat Ma in the end of member 40 and seat 53 in the end of split clamp 32, by a screw connecting these parts which does not appear in this figure but which i shown at 28 in the complementary view, Fig. 15.

Where the three rods are in parallel planes, with no end rod connection, the combination may be made up as in Fig. 15 with a stud fitting 49 added to the clamp fitting 32 in place of the horizontal rod shown at the right in Fig. 14 and having an end cap 29 applied thereto for securing the third parallel related rod [0.

A wall clamp for holding a rod parallel to a supporting wall may be made up as shown in Fig. 16, with one of the stud fittings 40 carrying the rod and engaged with the wall or floor clamp ll screwed fast to the wall or supporting structure 54.

The pivoted clam 12 shown in Figs. 1 and 4 may have a screw 55 extending inwardly through the stud 38 of the member 35 into engagement with positioning seats 56 in the end of the companion member 36, to enable quick and secure fastening of these two pivoted members in definitely determined selected angular relations.

What is claimed is:

l. Universally adaptable framing especially for laboratory equipment and comprising pivoted clamp members having overlapping portions at their inner ends, screw means pivotally connecti-ng said overlapping portions and enabling said pivoted clamp members to be arranged in alignment or swung about the pivot center into dif- :ferent angular relations, a projecting stud on the outer end of one of said members and the other member having a corresponding socket in the outer end of the same, said socket being of split construction and a screw contracting the same to adjustably and removably hold a rod or stud of a size similar to the projecting stud of the first mentioned member, a circular clamp member having a projecting stud on one end adjustably and removably held in said split socket, an end cap engaged over the other end of said circular clamp member, said circular clamp member and end cap having companion seats for holding a frame rod therebetween, an end screw extending through said end cap into said circular clamp member for adjustably securing said end cap, a frame rod engaged in said companion seats and adjustably and removably held clamped therein by said end screw, an annular clamp member having a split socket in one end engaged over the projecting stud of the first pivoted clamp member, a screw adjustably and removably securing said split socket over said projecting stud, an end cap engaged over the outer end of said annular clamp member, said last mentioned end cap and clamp member having companion seats for a frame rod, a screw adjustably securing said second end cap and a frame rod adjustably and removably clamped by said second end cap and whereby said frame rods may be secured together in variously extended and practically any angular relation.

2. Universally adaptable framing especially for laboratory equipment and comprising pivoted clamp members having overlapping portions at their inner ends, screw means pivotally connect.- ing said overlapping portions and enabling said pivoted clamp members to be arranged in alignment or swung about th pivot center into different angular relations, a projecting stud on the outer end of one of said members and the other member having a corresponding socket in the outer end of the same, said socket being of split construction and a screw contracting the same to adjustably and removably hold a rod or stud of a size similar to the projecting stud of the first mentioned member, a circular clamp member having a projecting stud on one end adjustably and removably held in said split socket, an end cap engaged over the other end of said circular clamp member, said circular clamp member and end cap having companion seats for holding a frame rod therebetween, an end screw extending through said end cap into said circular clamp member for adjustably securing said end cap, a frame rod engaged in said companion seats and adjustably and removably held clamped therein by said end screw, an annular clamp member having a split socket in one end engaged over the projecting stud of the first pivoted clamp member, a screw adjustably and removably securing said split socket over said projecting stud, an end cap engaged over the outer end of said annular clamp member, said last mentioned end cap and clamp member having companion seats for a frame rod, a screw adjustably securing said second end cap and a frame rod adjustably and removably clamped by said second end cap and whereby said frame rods may be secured together in variously extended and practically any angular relation, said screw for securing the first mentioned end cap to the circular clam member being of a length to extend entirely through that member in position opposite the outer end of the socketed pivoted clamp member and said socketed pivoted clamp member having a seat to receive the projecting end of said end cap securing screw whereby to lock said circular clamp member and the frame rod clamped thereon in definite angular relation on said socketed pivoted clamp member.

3. Universally adaptable framing especially for laboratory equipment and comprising pivoted clamp members having overlapping portions at their inner ends, screw means pivotally connecting said overlapping portions and enabling said pivoted clamp members to be arranged in alignment or swung about the pivot center into different angular relations, a projecting stud on the outer end of one of said members and the other member having a corresponding socket in the outer end of the same, said socket being of split construction and a screw contracting the same to adjustably and removably hold a rod or stud of a size similar to the projecting stud of the first mentioned member, a circular clamp member having a projecting stud on one end adjustably and removably held in said split socket, an end cap engaged over the other end of said circular clamp member, said circular clamp member and end cap having companion seats for holding a frame rod therebetween, an end screw extending through said end cap into said circular clamp member for adjustably securing said end cap, a frame rod engaged in said companion seats and adjustably and removably held clamped therein by said end screw, an annular clamp member having a split socket in one end engaged over the projecting stud of the first pivoted clamp memher, a screw adjustably and removably securing said split socket over said projecting stud, an end cap engaged over the outer end of said annular clamp member, said last mentioned end cap and clamp member having companion seats for a frame rod, a screw adjustably securing said second end cap and a frame rod adjustably and removably clamped by said second end cap and whereby said frame rods may be secured together in variously extended and practically any angular relation, and a set screw extending inwardly through the projecting stud of the first mentioned pivoted clamp member into engagement with the overlapping portion of the other pivoted clamp member to thereby lock said pivoted clamp members in fixed angular relation.

ROGER GILMONT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 809,432 Darrschmidt Jan. 9, 1906 1,306,119 Pharo June 10, 1919 1,337,205 Dingman Apr. 20, 1920 1,404,260 Arnold Jan. 24, 1922 1,476,062 Eccles Dec. 4, 1923 1,499,432 Williston et al July 1, 1924 1,830,355 Farr Nov. 3, 1931 1,978,867 Pipes Oct. 30, 1934 1,997,627 Casey Apr. 6, 1935 2,309,249 Karp Jan. 26, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 29,964 Great Britain Dec. 29, 1896 236,044 Great Britain July 2, 1925 

